Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-09-01
BORROWING A QUARTER.
A story for Boys.

Three city boys were on their way
home from school. and as there were
at least two hours before dark land
before supper time), they we're quite
ready to stop and look at anything,
from q circus to q dog fight.
.foh, boys, just look!" said Charley
Thorne.
"what2 Where2" exclaimed his
companions.
They were now in front OF a second
hand book store, and, pointing to a
thick Creep covered volume in the
window, Charlie exclaimed:
"Why, there's the Arabian Nights
real good, not torn a bit-marked
only twenty FIVE cents Full of pic
lures, too"
"Ohl" said, or rather sighed. Edgar
Denny and Will. Farnham.
Three faces were pressed close to the
booksellers window, three pair of ea-
ger eyes gloated over the treasure; for
to what ten or twelve-year-old boy is
not the Arabian Nights a treasurer
Neither Edgar, Charlie, nor WILL,
had ever read the wonderful book; but
one ofthe latter s cousins had doneso,
and had rstailed one or two OF the
stories to Will, and he in turn had
repeated them to his two friends. And
to think that all this-roc's eggs, one
eyed caliphs, sparkling jewels, genii,
palaces-might be obtained for TWEEN
ty-hve cents.
81 say" remarked Edgar, doubtful
ly, "has any fellow got a ~quarter?"
No fellow had; what was worse, the
united wealth of the three fellows
amounted to Just sever cents.
Perhaps If l tell papa about it,
he'll buy It for u.s." suggested Charley.
"Pshawl Somebodyn snap it up
before you can get to your fathers
store. a bargain like that isn't to be
had every day"
eff Tom Baker see it he'll buy it,
sure pop. He's always got money"
sighed Edgar. 'If. he hadn't been
kept in, like as not he'd have bought
it before this"
Suddenly Wills face frightened.
Putting his hand in his pocket he
drew out a 81 bill, and announced
his intention of buying the book.
"a dollarl Where did you get it?"
asked Charlie, in amazement.
""Tisn't mine; it's Aunt Mary's.
She gave me a dollar this noon, and
asked me to pay so cents that she
owed to Mr.. Jennison, the apothe-
cary, you know. She will not
be home until late this
evening; and in the meantime / can
run up to grandma's and get a quart
or she owes me for some eggs / sold
her-my little bantam's eggsl Aunt
Mary will not mind If / do borrow a
quarter from her for a little while,"
So the treasury OF marvels passed
into Will. Farnham's possession, and
the three happy boys made immediate
arrangements for readingit aloud, turn
and turn about. At every street cor
ner they paused to look at "just one
more picture" and it was with a vio-
lent effort tEat viii. tore himself
away to run up to grandma's."
"But you boys may look at it while
/ am gone, il you'll bring it to me be.
fore supper" he remarked graciously
as he left them.
Unfortunately he got to his grand
mothers just a little while alter she
had left home for a two days visit to
one of her sons; so the little bantam's
eggs could not be paid for then.
'0h, we'll, it can't be helped for
now" Will, said to himself. "Grand-
ma is certain to give me the quarter
in a dav or two, and I'll tell Aunt
Mary abut it as soon al she comes
in"
When he got home his mother told
him to put his aunt's change on her
bureau, and then run to the grocer's
and get some sugar for tea. After
supper he betook himself to his new
book, and soon was a thousand years
and a thousand miles away. He dim
ly heard some one ask him about
Aunt Mary's money. and he gave a
dreamy answer; and his father had to
speak to him three times before he
realized that it was bed time.
OF course for the moment he forgot
all about the borrowed quarter. Con.
/ SCtouo VI kOOo Aii6CllttOA1S AC az iIO
anxiety about the matter.
"Isn't it too bad, WILL, that our
new cook who makes such nice cake
and pie, is not honest, and mamma
has got to discharge her!" said his sis
ter the next morning.
Eyes, it is a pity. What has she
taken2"
mot very much; but, as mamma
says, it shows that her principles are
not good. She or some fairy (ior
there was not a person but her in the
room from the time you went there
until mamma went in and discovered
it'll took a quarter out of Aunt Mary's
room. You put the change on her
bureau?"
Eyes, on a little blue mat"
THAT was where / saw it," said
Mrs. Farnham.
Aunt Mary" said Will, with a laugh,
that / had borrowed q quarter OF
you, or you would be fifty cents poor
er instead OF twenty-five"
"What do you mean2 / lent you
no quarter!" was the surprised reply.
"No; but I borrowed it,"
did you then lay but one quarter
on the bureau?" asked his mother.
"Yes, ma'am. borrowed the 9TH
en-"
"ohl" exclaimed Mrs. Farnham,
with a sigh of relief. "Then the cook
is not dishonest, and l have unlustly
suspected her."
81 am very sorry that l did not ex-
plain sooner" said Will, earnestly,
$50 you ought to bel But suppose
you explain now" interposed his
father, a little sternly.
And Will. told the whole story; add
ING, "you see. Aunt Mary, l didn't
know that grandma was going away,
and | thought / could get the money
az once"
"Oh, it's all right. You are well
come to the money" answered his
aunt.
II disagree with you Mary" ex-
claimed Mr.. Farnham, quickly. 81
think there is a great principle at
stake, and that VIII. did not do right.
There is but onc step. one very little
step, between borrowing a thing with
out its owners permission and steal
Ing"
"0h, papal" cried Jennie, Mortified
at the word, 'tour Will. wouldn't
steal"
81 sincerely hope and firmly believe
that he would not; but no one can tel
what he may do under strong tempta-
tion. The clerk who borrows his EN-.
ployer's funds fully intends to restore
them. Yet how often we read of a
clerk or cashier involving himself be.
You'd recall, just by borrowing a few
thousands to speculate with. ] once
knew a gentleman, highly educated